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"I Have No Time!" and Other Workout Excuses, Busted

Excuse after excuse—the "free passes" we give ourselves for opting out of a workout (again!) are seemingly endless, but enough is enough. Brett Hoebel, author and creator of the 20 Minute Body and trainer on NBC's The Biggest Loser, shares his advice on how to banish the most common excuses from your vocab once and for all.

Busy day tomorrow? Make sure your gym bag is packed and at your door the night before. Or put on one of your favorite workout playlists to get you in the mood.

"I don't have a break from the kids."

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If you have a newborn, stroller-cizing (using your stroller as a crafty piece of exercise equipment) can be a great way to sneak in a workout. Babysitting older kids? Try teaming up with them for a workout at home. Pop in a DVD—many of Hoebel's clients use his exercise DVDs to get in some quality family fitness time.

"I'm so sore from yesterday."

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Second-day soreness can pull even the well-trained exerciser out of the game. Make sure to target a different muscle group that isn't hurting. So if your legs are sore, train your arms and abs. Or do a low-impact workout, like yoga.

"I had a bit too much fun last night."

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It may sound counterintuitive, but after a big night out, a good sweat session could be just what the hangover doctor ordered. You should probably avoid intense workouts (just say no to HIIT for now) and stick with gentler techniques that still break a sweat. And don't forget to hydrate with plenty of water and electrolytes.

"I'm too out of shape to be seen in public yet."

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"You have to start sometime and waiting for the perfect moment usually never comes," says Hoebel. You could wear baggier clothing if you're feeling self-conscious, and try to find off-peak hours at the gym when fewer people are there. But remember: There's a special place in hell for people who judge others when they're trying to get in shape.

"Eh, I'll go tomorrow."

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There's no better time than the present. Try visual reminders to help get you motivated. Create a workout calendar and hang it on the refrigerator or somewhere you'll always see it. Mark each day you exercised with an "X" and you'll quickly notice whether the space is filled with marks (congrats!) or pretty empty. You may reconsider the next time you want to put off another workout until tomorrow.

"I don't have a gym membership and the weather is terrible today!"

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Forget the gym! There are so many amazing at-home workouts you can do on your own time, in the privacy of your home, where the weather isn't even a factor. Next excuse please!

"I have so much work I should be doing."

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Regular exercise helps to reduce stress, which can make you more focused and efficient when tackling even the biggest project pile-up. Hoebel suggests carving out 20 to 30 minutes in the morning, even on those crazy-busy days, to do a quick workout before work. Notice how much your energy levels and concentration improve.